Sales Pitch Trip Worth It??

[Arimaas]

Hey Guys,

Got a direct marketing offer yesterday in the mail for $249 for five days, four nights in Sheraton Vistana Villages in Orlando. Also included is 5000 Starpoints or $100 gift card to Planet Hollywood. Obviously I know this package is to get me to sit through a sales pitch, even though it doesn't say so.

Just wondering if the Sheraton folks think this is worth it? I am actually in contract on a HGVC property I got through resale, so I won't be purchasing anythng, this is just an excuse for a cheap vacation.

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Ari

 

[LisaRex]

I've never gone on a timeshare presentation even though I've owned 3 of them. It's not worth it, IMO.

Look closely. They many not require a sales presentation. Most of the mailers I get require a presentation, while the digital offers do not seem to.

 

[JIMinNC]

Four nights for $249 is $62/night. You can't stay in a Red Roof Inn for that. If you're willing to take 90 minutes or so to do the presentation and can say "no", it is a way to get a cheap vacation in a good property.

We bought a similar $299 five day/four night package to the new Westin Los Cabos a couple months ago. We're waiting on them to open up late January/early February reservation dates before booking our stay. We have no intention to buy, but it is a cheap trip to Los Cabos.

 

[Sea Six]

It's worth it, just expect the sales staff at VV to be the most rude experience of your life. No other resort is as bad as that place.

 

[blondietink]

No, I think the sales force at Vistana Resort is worse. Just MHO.

 

[Arimaas]

Thanks guys. I may book the trip, and I think you guys may be right - I don't even see any mention of having to attend a sales pitch, maybe when I call to purchase the package?

Thanks, Ari

 

[CBGrundee]

Take the trip but when asked if you want to do the presentation say no and just walk straight to the pool like its no ones business. You dont need the $100.00 gift card or whatever things theyre trying to give you. Vistana sales reps are dirty. Their sales practices are deceptive. FYI you do not have to attend the sales pitch at all. Dont let anyone tell you that you have to. We were told we had to go otherwise we would never be welcomed back to Westin, turns out its all crap. Anyhow we got suckered into buying one at Westin Nanea. Its all lies to get you to sign the contract papers. I'm giving you this knowledge to be strong and say NO to the sales presentation meeting.

 

[LannyPC]

And if by some chance you do break down and buy, you will have 10 days to rescind your purchase which you can do with a clear head and no one pressuring you or berating you for not buying.

Just remember, though, that the "four nights" is deceptive. Day one, you check in at 4:00. You don't have much time to do anything else that day. Day two is essentially taken up by the sales presentation. Day five, you have to check out by 11:00. That essentially gives you only two days for yourself.

 

[LisaRex]

It may or may not be true that you have to attend a sales presentation. If it's required, it has to be disclosed. Look closely at the invitation. Some say it is required; others do not.

 

[DeniseM]

Generally, Sheraton preview packages do not require you to attend a sales presentation - but at check-in, they will offer you something like a $100 resort credit, to entice you to attend the presentation. In our early days of timesharing, we did this a few times ourselves, and always regreted it.

If you decide to accept the offer, make an agreement with your spouse in advance that you are not going to attend a sales presentation. #1 - It will be unpleasant and waste half a day, #2 - The product they are selling now (Flex Options) is an especially poor value.

 

[farsighted99]

Personally, I won't be accepting any more of these offers. We both went into the Nanea presentation thinking "absolutely no way" and came out with a timeshare. Especially if the place is desirable, like Nanea. It's almost always a bad deal.

 

[Arimaas]

Generally, Sheraton preview packages do not require you to attend a sales presentation - but at check-in, they will offer you something like a $100 resort credit, to entice you to attend the presentation. In our early days of timesharing, we did this a few times ourselves, and always regreted it.

If you decide to accept the offer, make an agreement with your spouse in advance that you are not going to attend a sales presentation. #1 - It will be unpleasant and waste half a day, #2 - The product they are selling now (Flex Options) is an especially poor value.

Great advice. Thanks. I wouldn't purchase the timeshare, I already am in contract for a HGVC week, just waiting on Hilton to decide if it will exercise its ROFR. For $100 resort credit (I don't drink and if my wife has a glass or two of wine at a dinner that's a lot), won't do us much good anyway. We like to get off property to eat, so using that at the dining options aren't too helpful. And $100 for 2+ hours of my time for sure isn't worth it.

-Ari

 

[duke]

If you bring a 4 year old with you the presentation lasts less than 20 minutes.

 

[Arimaas]

If you bring a 4 year old with you the presentation lasts less than 20 minutes.

LOL really? I had an 8 month old at the Hilton one we just went to and they still kept us 2 + hours. My daughter will be around 18 months by the time we go, so we will see.

Still, $100 to the resort isn't too enticing.

 

[r1lee]

All day presentation? Lol, mine lasted 100min. At the 70-80min point when they walk you to the room. Just tell them you buy used. That's all and the presentation ends pretty quickly after that.

I don't try to be tough with them. They have their jobs and if you consider that if there is no new sales, then there won't be any resales on the market. Let them do their pitch and end it at 90min.

 

[Arimaas]

All day presentation? Lol, mine lasted 100min. At the 70-80min point when they walk you to the room. Just tell them you buy used. That's all and the presentation ends pretty quickly after that.

I don't try to be tough with them. They have their jobs and if you consider that if there is no new sales, then there won't be any resales on the market. Let them do their pitch and end it at 90min.

I agree, no reason to be nasty with them, but they do tend to fabricate (well that's me being nice, they full on lie) about things to get the sale.

Also, as an aside, for $100 resort credit, a 100 min sales pitch is still not wroth my time. If it was a requirement for the vacation, than yes, I get it, and usually worth it. But for $100 resort credit? No way.

 

[r1lee]

I agree, no reason to be nasty with them, but they do tend to fabricate (well that's me being nice, they full on lie) about things to get the sale.

Also, as an aside, for $100 resort credit, a 100 min sales pitch is still not wroth my time. If it was a requirement for the vacation, than yes, I get it, and usually worth it. But for $100 resort credit? No way.

Lol, it's not so bad to me. $1/min. Pretty good salary . Usually at 9am I ain't doing anything anyways.

 

[Sea Six]

Lol, it's not so bad to me. $1/min. Pretty good salary . Usually at 9am I ain't doing anything anyways.

I agree with you. The only thing is that $100 resort credit at VV isn't of value to me because I don't spend anything at the resort. We're usually out somewhere else. Other resorts where I do spend money I'd gladly take the resort credit.

 

[r1lee]

I agree with you. The only thing is that $100 resort credit at VV isn't of value to me because I don't spend anything at the resort. We're usually out somewhere else. Other resorts where I do spend money I'd gladly take the resort credit.

Oh yeah svv would definitely suck. I don't ever go to svv stuff.

 

[blondietink]

I have never even ordered a cocktail at SVV, and never have a bill of any kind when checking out.

 

[Sea Six]

I have never even ordered a cocktail at SVV, and never have a bill of any kind when checking out.

Me, too. BUT I'd do anything for resort credit at Harborside $$$$

 

[okwiater]

Me, too. BUT I'd do anything for resort credit at Harborside $$$$

DW and I signed up for the tour at Harborside in exchange for $100 resort credit. We showed up at the scheduled time and they didn't have an available tour guide. So, they apologized, handed us our $100 and let us go!

 

[Sea Six]

DW and I signed up for the tour at Harborside in exchange for $100 resort credit. We showed up at the scheduled time and they didn't have an available tour guide. So, they apologized, handed us our $100 and let us go!

Happened to me once! Usually you're walked around to see units for about 30 minutes then they turn you loose. Probably the BEST place to take a tour because the resort credit is such high value!

 

[Arimaas]

Happened to me once! Usually you're walked around to see units for about 30 minutes then they turn you loose. Probably the BEST place to take a tour because the resort credit is such high value!

Curious, why is a resort credit worth it there and not at SVV? I usually don't drink or eat at any of the hotel properties, except for maybe one meal when I first get it. I like to go out to local places to eat or cook.

 

[Sea Six]

Curious, why is a resort credit worth it there and not at SVV? I usually don't drink or eat at any of the hotel properties, except for maybe one meal when I first get it. I like to go out to local places to eat or cook.

As others have said, when you stay at VV you don't charge anything to your room. You're usually at Disney or somewhere else other than VV. At the end of your week you have no room charges and nothing to use a $100 resort credit on. On the other hand, when you stay at Harborside, you practically spend your whole time there and everything you do is charged back to your room. You could easily use a $500 resort credit there!